What's new in Sanford Stadium? Two drink options for Georgia football games

It's almost Saturday in Athens, Georgia football fans. And it's going to be a scorcher for the Bulldogs' season opener, with a high close to 100 and the 'feels like' temperature near 110 degrees, according to Accuweather.

Good thing there are plenty of cooling refreshments in the concession stands.

Creature Comforts is adding a new option to its list of beverages this fall at Sanford Stadium for Georgia football games. Georgia athletics will also add a canned cocktail to its concessions this season.

Creature Comforts Flash Cat, a stronger IPA known as an Imperial IPA, will be added to refrigerators alongside more traditional choices like Creature Comforts and Classic City Lager.

Surfside, a canned cocktail beverage, will offer vodka-based drinks that have lower calories and less sugar than other options.

The additions were announced over the summer by Alan Thomas, UGA Senior Associate Athletic Director of Marketing & Revenue Strategy, while appearing on 960 The Ref in Athens.

Here's what to know about the new alcohol options.

Watch Georgia Football this fall on Fubo

What alcohol is sold at Georgia football games?

Creature Comforts labels itself as the Official Beer of Georgia football and sells its drinks at Sanford Stadium. It will not have Sip 'Em Seltzer this year, however, Thomas said.

Other beers include Coors Light, Miller Light, Michelob Ultra and Modelo.

Hard seltzers include High Noon and Twisted Tea. Surfside now adds a canned cocktail option different from the others.

What is Creature Comforts Flash Cat?

The Flash Cat Imperial IPA describes itself as having 'big tropical vibes and a silky smooth smile. Brewed with Columbus, Citra, and Galaxy hops, it presents an aroma of tropical fruit, citrus, and melon, with a balanced bitterness and medium body.'

It's 8.0% Alcohol by volume (ABV) content is higher than a regular IPA like Tropicalia (6.6%), but less than a double IPA or some stouts, like its 12-year anniversary stout, that clocks in at a 13.7% ABV.

What are Surfside canned cocktails?

Surfside claims to be made with vodka, real tea, real juice, just 100 calories and only two grams of sugar. Oh, and no bubbles, differentiating itself from seltzers.

Its flavors include Ice Tea & Vodka, Peach Tea & Vodka, Lemonade & Vodka Raspberry Lemonade & Vodka, and more. It's unclear how many of its drinks will be offered in Sanford Stadium.

All of its drinks are 4.5% ABV.

Alcohol in Sanford Stadium

The athletic department decided to add alcohol in Sanford Stadium full-time in 2024 after experimenting with it at other sporting events such as basketball.

The school’s gross revenue for public alcohol sales was $4,308,205, a jump from $2,794,481 in 2024 when the school began selling alcohol throughout the stadium, according to figures obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald in an open records request.

New scoreboard clock, souvenir items

Thomas said recently that the SEC is requiring a free standing game clock be visible below the scoreboard. Instead of a digital version on the video board, a clock will always be visible for teams to see on the west end of the stadium.

A souvenir cup will be available for fans, featuring the Bulldogs' back-to-back SEC Championship titles. Also, a Frost Buddy can cooler will be available to purchase at the stadium. An all-white version will be available for the white uniform game against Western Kentucky in Week 2.

Marc Weiszer contributed to this story

Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today and former sports editor in USA TODAY and the Athens Banner-Herald. Find him on X @RyneDennis and email at rdennis@onlineathens.com.   

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: What's new in Sanford Stadium? Two drink options for Georgia football games

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